Contact Problems

How to Fix Incorrect Suggested Email Address in Outlook for Mac

Adam Davis Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The new Outlook for Mac persistently suggests an incorrect email address in the autocomplete field, and standard troubleshooting steps like clearing the cache do not resolve the problem.

Fix an Incorrect Suggested Email Address in Outlook for Mac

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Composing a new email and typing a recipient's name to trigger the autocomplete suggestion.
Observed behavior: An incorrect email address is repeatedly offered as the top autocomplete result, even after removing the suggestion manually, resetting the account, and clearing the cache.

Before you start

Ensure you have your IMAP email account credentials ready, as resolving this stubborn cache issue requires completely removing and reinstalling the email account.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove and Reinstall Your IMAP Email Account

This is the most effective method for clearing stubborn autocomplete suggestions specific to the new Outlook for Mac.

Because this issue is often isolated to the local autocomplete cache of the new Outlook for Mac, standard cache-clearing methods might fail. Removing the account entirely forces the application to rebuild its database from scratch.

Please note that applying this fix will erase all of your previously learned suggested addresses, meaning the autocomplete feature will start with a completely fresh slate.

Open Account Settings

Launch Outlook for Mac, click on the 'Outlook' menu in your top menu bar, and select 'Settings' (or 'Preferences' on older macOS versions).

Remove the IMAP Account

Click on 'Accounts', select your IMAP email account from the left sidebar, and click the minus (-) button at the bottom to remove it.

Restart Outlook

Completely quit Outlook for Mac and launch it again to ensure all temporary cached data is wiped.

Re-add the Account

Navigate back to 'Settings' > 'Accounts', click the plus (+) button, choose 'Add an Account', and enter your credentials to reinstall the IMAP account.

Remove and Reinstall Your IMAP Email Account

Autocomplete Data Loss: This process permanently deletes your locally cached autocomplete suggestions. Outlook will begin learning your frequent contacts again naturally as you send new emails.

Solution 2

Verify Exchange and Local Mac Contacts

Check your actual contact directories to ensure the incorrect email address isn't permanently saved in your address book.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Outlook for Mac keep suggesting the wrong email address even after I click the 'X'?

The new Outlook for Mac sometimes fails to permanently delete suggestions from its local autocomplete database due to caching glitches. When the standard removal method fails, completely removing and re-adding the IMAP account forces the cache to reset.

Will removing my IMAP account in Outlook delete my emails?

No, reinstalling an IMAP account will not delete your emails from the server. Once you re-add the account, Outlook will sync and download your emails again. However, local app preferences and your autocomplete history will be cleared.

Why does this autocomplete issue only happen in the new Outlook for Mac?

The new Outlook for Mac uses a different local database structure and syncing mechanism compared to legacy Outlook and Apple Mail. This isolated architecture is why the bug appears exclusively in the new version and doesn't affect your mail server directly.

Outlook & Email Problems